Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Answer:- The vision statement of SPMRM is "Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban villages".

Answer:- The aim of SPMRM is to create 300 rural growth clusters across the country. In the first phase, 100 clusters will be taken up, thereafter more clusters will be identified based on the progress of the scheme.

Answer:- Statistics prove that India is predominantly rural (as per Census of India statistics, the rural population in India, stands at 833 million, constituting almost 68% of the total population). Large parts of rural areas in the country are not stand-alone settlements but part of a cluster of settlements, which are relatively proximate to each other. These clusters typically illustrate potential for growth, have economic drivers and derive locational and competitive advantages. Hence, making a case for concerted policy directives for such clusters. These clusters once developed can then be classified as 'Rurban'. Hence taking cognizance of this, the Union Cabinet, has approved the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM), in September 2015, aimed at strengthening rural areas by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities. Taking also into view, the advantages of clusters, both from an economic view point as well as to optimize benefits of infrastructure provision, the Mission aims at development of 300 Rurban clusters, in the next 5 years.

Answer:- A 'Rurban cluster', would be a cluster of geographically contiguous villages with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas. As far as practicable, clusters of village would follow administrative convergence units of Gram Panchayats and shall be within a single block/tehsil for administrative convenience.

Answer:- Rurban clusters would be developed by provisioning of training linked to economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and by providing necessary infrastructure amenities. The Mission recommends fourteen desirable components for an ideal Rurban cluster.

Answer:- In order to achieve the envisaged outcomes, under NRuM, the State Government shall identify existing Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and State Government Schemes relevant for the development of the cluster and converge their implementation in an integrated and time bound manner. Under the NRuM framework, Government of India shall provide Critical Gap Funding (CGF) to the clusters to supplement the shortfall in funding available through various Government schemes in achieving the outcomes desired for the cluster.

Answer:- The project is envisaged to be funded through convergence of various Centrally Sponsored, Central Sector and State Government Schemes pertaining to the chosen components under the Mission. In addition to the scheme funds, Critical Gap Funding (CGF) is proposed to be provided through the Scheme funds to the clusters to bridge the gap posed by availability of scheme funds and fulfilling the development aspirations of the 'Rurban Cluster'. The CGF would be capped at 30% of the capital cost or Rs 30 crores whichever is lesser. The operations and maintenance expenses of the project will be recovered through user charges as per the user charges policy in the state with shortfall supported by the state budget.

Answer:- The cluster selection process would be done by the Ministry and the States as per the details outlined below. There will be two categories of clusters under NRuM - Non-Tribal and Tribal and the process of selection will vary for each of these categories.

Non-Tribal Clusters: For selection of Non-Tribal clusters, the Ministry would provide a list of leading sub districts to each State, within which the clusters could be identified. The selection of these sub districts by the Ministry would be based on parameters such as (i) Decadal Growth in Rural Population (ii) Decadal Growth in Non-Farm work participation (iii) Presence of Economic Clusters (iv) Presence of places of Tourism and Religious significance and (v) Proximity to Transport Corridors. Appropriate weightages have been given for each parameter. Thereafter, within these sub districts, so identified by the Ministry, the State Governments could select the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

Any other factor which the States may consider relevant may also be included. However, a total weightage of 80% would be given for the first 4 parameters and the States will have the flexibility to choose the last three parameters, subject to a total of 20%. While selecting the Rurban cluster the State may identify a large village/ gram panchayat that are growth centers with resources available in the area and could potentially lead the economic transformation of the region. These growth centers could be block headquarter villages, census towns (under the administration of Gram panchayats). The clusters could then be formed by identifying geographically contiguous villages/ gram panchayats within a radius of 5 – 10 km (or radius appropriate to the population density and geography of the region) around the identified growth center.

Tribal Clusters: For identification of the tribal clusters, the Ministry would select the leading sub districts falling within the top 100 tribal districts of the country, based on the Scheduled Tribes population. The selection of these sub districts would be based on parameters such as (i) Decadal growth in Tribal Population (ii) Current Tribal Literacy Rate (iii) Decadal growth in Non-Farm Work force participation (iv) Decadal growth in Rural Population and (v) Presence of Economic Clusters. Appropriate weightages would be given respectively for each of these parameters while selecting the sub-districts. Thereafter, within these sub districts so identified by the Ministry, the State Governments could select the clusters and while doing so, could include the following performance parameters:

Decadal growth in Tribal Population.

Growth in Tribal Literacy rates.

Decadal growth in Non-Farm Work force participation.

Any other factor which the States may consider relevant may be included in addition to the above three parameters, provided the weightage for the above three parameters is not reduced below 80%.

Answer:- Integrated Cluster Action Plan (ICAP) shall be a key document covering baseline studies outlining the requirements of the cluster and the key interventions needed to address these needs and to leverage its potential. The ICAP prepared for the cluster will enunciate: (1) A strategy for the cluster integrating the vision for each Gram Panchayat, identified in the cluster (2) The desired components for the cluster under the National Rurban Mission (NRuM) (3) The resources to be converged under various Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and State Sector schemes (4) The Critical Gap Funding (CGF) required for the cluster (5) Most importantly, the ICAP would delineate the cluster as a planning area for further notification. The State Governments shall prepare an Integrated Cluster Action Plan (ICAP) that would lay down the development aspirations of the cluster in a consultative manner and detail the interventions being envisaged as a part of SPMRM, the schemes being converged, implementation framework, the envisaged Mission outcomes in the cluster expected as a result of implementation of SPMRM. The ICAP will also provide the tentative project cost and the estimated resource plan to meet the project cost through convergence of various Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored, and State Government Schemes.

Answer:- The ICAPs would delineate the cluster areas as well planned layouts following the planning norms (as laid down in the State Town and Country Planning Acts/similar Central or State statutes as may be applicable), which would be duly notified by the State/UTs. While submitting the ICAPs the draft notification for declaration of the cluster as a planning area and preparation of the Master Plan under the relevant State Act for the cluster shall also be submitted to the Ministry.

Answer:- Detailed Project Report (DPR) contains the detailed design and costing of the project components in line with the state government norms. DPRs are detailed 'good for execution' documents prepared for the components proposed to be included by the States as Mission Outcomes for the clusters.

Answer:- Critical Gap Funding (CGF) application is the submission by the State Government for the CGF estimated for the Rurban cluster. The CGF application is submitted by the State Nodal Agency (SNA) to the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) for appraisal and approval. The approved CGF application is then submitted by the SNA to the Ministry for appraisal and taking necessary approvals from the Empowered Committee (EC).

Answer:- The Mission proposes to provide State Technical Support Agencies (STSAs). Institutions of repute, empaneled by the Ministry and engaged by the States, to support in selection of clusters, preparation of ICAPs and spatial plans and to hand hold the States in these processes.

Answer:- The project is to be implemented in a Mission mode. The NRuM will be run at the Centre, by the National Mission Directorate headed by the Joint Secretary, in-charge of the National Rurban Mission (NRuM), Ministry of Rural Development (Ministry). This Mission Directorate would be supported by a National Mission Management Unit (NMMU). An Empowered Committed (EC) headed by Secretary, Ministry, will be constituted at Ministry, which will approve the ICAPs submitted by the States and approve the CGF for the cluster and take other necessary decisions and steps to ensure coordination with other Central Ministries and State Governments, to facilitate successful implementation of the Scheme. An Expert Group will be constituted at Ministry which will comprise representatives of relevant institutions and departments and eminent persons in the related sectors of the Mission. The mandate of the Expert Group will be to evaluate the ICAPs before it is sent to the Empowered Committee for final approval. Ministry may also seek guidance from the Expert Group on matters related to SPMRM from time to time during the Mission period.

Answer:- At the State level, Department of Rural Development or an Agency or any Department nominated by the State Government will be designated as the State Nodal Agency (SNA) for purposes of the National Rurban Mission (NRuM). The Department /SNA will be supported by a State Project Management Unit (SPMU) to be set up in the Department/SNA. Preferably, the selected agency should be under the administrative domain of the State Government's Rural Development and/or Panchayati Raj Department, as the case may be. A State Level Empowered Committed (SLEC) headed by the Chief Secretary will recommend/approve the ICAPs before submission to the Mission Directorate and will also be responsible for other key decisions for effective coordination and implementation of the scheme.

Answer:- A District Project Management Unit- (DPMU) may be set up at the District Collector's office with upto three professionals, i. Regional Planning Specialist; ii. Convergence Specialist and; iii. Rural Development and Management Specialist. The existing pool of Prime Minister Rural Development Fellows (PMRDFs) of the State wherever present may also be engaged. The District Project Management Unit will report to the District Collector. This unit shall be responsible for coordinating with implementing departments/ agencies for ensuring notification of planning areas and related spatial planning matters, convergence of schemes planned in the ICAP in an integrated and time-bound manner. These DPMUs shall also work in close co-ordination with the SPMU.

Answer:- A Cluster Development and Management Unit (CDMU) will be set up for each Rurban cluster comprising at least two professionals, i. Spatial planning professional and; ii. Rural management/development professional. This unit will closely monitor the spatial planning aspects and the ICAP preparation for the cluster and will also closely monitor the progress of the activities in the cluster and provide regular updates to the DPMU/SPMU.

Answer:- The State Nodal Agency will consult the Panchayati Raj institutions at the Zilla, Panchayat Samiti and the Gram Panchayat on the NRuM activities to be undertaken in the Clusters. The Mission should be adopted by the Gram Sabhas of all the participating Gram Panchayats through Gram Sabha and Panchayat Samiti resolutions.PRI members0020to be included at all stages of the project cycle from planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and maintenance of assets created during the project period.

Answer:- State Government are requested to ensure the participation of local elected representatives comprising Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) etc, whenever 'Rurban' Projects are inaugurated/launched.

Answer:- The Critical Gap Funding (CGF) approved for the Rurban Cluster will be transferred from Ministry to the State Government, which in turn will ensure that it will be credited into a dedicated bank account maintained by the SNA. The CGF for each cluster will be divided into three instalments, over a period of three years, in accordance with the project schedule finalized during the approval of the SPMRM project.The SNA would then transfer the funds for the development of the clusters to a dedicated bank account at the District Level. The District Collector shall utilize the funds from this account for the components of the ICAP proposed to be funded by CGF. The State Governments/Gram Panchayats may utilize these dedicated bank accounts for channelizing any additional funding for the Rurban cluster. For Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and State Sector schemes converged under the National Rurban Mission (NRuM) for a cluster, the fund flow arrangement shall be in accordance with the relevant Scheme Guidelines and these funds will not be routed through the dedicated bank accounts at the State and the district level.

Answer:- The Ministry shall release Rs. 35 lakhs (Rupees thirty five lakhs only) per Rurban cluster approved in the State for preparation of ICAPs. This will be adjusted against the 2% administrative budget for each State. The funds would be released in three instalments at appropriate stages of the project cycle as illustrated below.

The first instalment -- 30% of CGF will be released after the approval of the ICAP by the Ministry.

The second instalment -- 30% of CGF will be released after submission of DPR approvals by SLEC, approval of the final CGF for the project by the Ministry, which will be followed with commencement of construction activities at the site.

The third instalment -- 40% of CGF will be released after submission of Utilization Certificate in accordance with GFR rules and a field visit by Ministry.

The SNA shall transfer 35% of the CGF received as third instalment to the Project and the balance 5% of the CGF shall be transferred by the SNA after completion of construction of all project components. The SNA shall verify the completion of the project through site visits. A copy of the completion report will have to be sent to the Ministry for information and record.

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LAST UPDATED : 13 April 2018

VISION

The National Rurban Mission (NRuM) follows the vision of "Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".